1947 6 RD Trenton - In 1947 all personnel in the regular force were encouraged to claim as pensionable time their Militia service. In my case, I had been a member of the Prince Edward Island Light Horse Regiment. I went to the Senior Accounts Officer at 6 RD Trenton about claiming my Militia time. He advised me to obtain proof of service and monies earned. I wrote to the Commanding Officer of the Regiment for the necessary documents. The statement I received simply read, "Man and Horse" and the amount earned. You see this had been a Cavalry Regiment and in my time you had to have a horse, so me and my horse had always reported for the two weeks training as a pair each year. I forwarded this document to the Senior Accounts Officer but he did not feel I should be paying any pension on a "dead horse". He wrote a letter to AFHQ for a ruling. In due course, he received a reply a "not withstanding" letter indicating that since I had received the money earned by myself and the horse, I would be required to pay back pension on the full amount. This, I did through pay deductions. Years later when my pension entitlements were audited, I received a refund of $7.20 for overpayment. I felt this was fair as my old horse "Prince" had the heaves so bad that the Militia Sergeant ordered me to leave the horse in the stable and train with the other troops that did not have horses. 

By Archie Graham, Flight Lieutenant, Retired